Compression brake



March 25, 1930. L. D. BRUECKEL COMPRES S ION BRAKE Filed NOV. 7. 1925 Patented Mar. 25, 1930- UNITED STA VLEE D. BRUECKEL, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO COMPRESSION :BRAKEl Application filed November This invention relates to a device for retarding the action of internal combustion engines by opposing the expansion, or by causing the compression of the gases dis- 6 charged from the cylinders, and it is especially suited for use on motor vehicles to retard their progress in descending steep grades. V

The obj ect of the invention is to provide a simple and practical device kof this nature which may be substituted for a portion ofthe exhaust pipe, which may be operated at will to create a back pressure sufficient to retard the operation of the engine, but not sufficient to stop it altogether, while the structure and operation of the various parts connected with the engine are not otherwiser altered.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodi ment of the invention as applied to the exhaust pipe of an automobile engine.

Figure 2 is apvertical longitudinal section of the device shown in Fig. 1 and drawn on a larger scale.

Figure 3 is of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2. v

The preferred embodiment of the invention a section taken on the line 8-3 30 is shown in connection with an automobile engine 5, having an inlet manifold 6 and an exhaust manifold y7 from which the exhaust gases are conducted through an exhaust pipe 8 to a suitable muiiier. Theattachment to which the present invention relates comprises a section of pipe 9, which is substituted for a portion of the exhaust pipe 8, and is secured to the latter by flange couplings 10, or other suitable means.

The pipe section 9 is formed with a perpendicular projection 11, constituting the valve box, having a slot 12 through its inner end, and arranged in a plane perpendicular to the pipe section 9.` 1 A cut-olf valve 13 is adapted to reciprocate in the slot 12. The

outer end of the valve box 11 has a head 14, which is removably secured `in any suitable manner. rllhe valve 13 is formed with a stem 15, which extends through the head 14, and is surrounded by a suitable packing gland 16.

7, 1925. serial no. 67,692

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A collar 17 is secured to the outer end ofthe stem 15, and a coiled spr-ing 18, surrounding The valve stem 15 may be extended upwardly at an angle through the dash board 19, so as to be actuated by the foot ofthe Y driver to close, or partially close, the valve 13,

or the stem may be provided with an exten'- sion 20 which extends upwardly'through the instrument panel 21, so that the valve may be actuated by the hand.

rlhe inner end of the valve is provided with a concave recess 22,

so that when the valve is moved inwardly as far asposs'ible, there will still remain a suficient opening to permit the escape of a suf# ficient portion of the gas evolved by the explosions 1n the engine cylinders, so that little of it, ifany, will be forced backwardly into the inlet manifold when 'the inlet valves are opened.

The pipe section 9 is also provided between the valve 13 and the exhaust manifold? with a perpendicular branch 23'to which a safety valve box 24 may be secured by a flange union 25, or vin any other suit 26 is mounted for rec box 24, and has a stem able manner. Avvalve iprocationY within the 27 extending through the outer end of the box. A coiled spring 28 surrounds the valve ste in, andno'rmally holds the valve 26 upon its seat with considerable pressure. The spring ciently yieldable,

- 28, however, isv sufliso' that if the expansive force of the gas is great enough 'so that there is danger of rupturing pressure will beV i through the valve 26.

box 24is formed with channels y cross sectional area is collectively equal apr the exhaustpipe, this rnmediately` relieved The interior'of the 29, whose proximately to the cross sectional area ofthe passageway through the branch 23. The excess pressure, therefore,as soon asthe valve 26 opens, is

and a mouthB() with cate. f

An extension pipe relieved through the channels 2 9 which they communi-y 31 may be connected to the mouth 30, so as to conduct the gases emitted therefrom to a poi nt where they may be safely discharged into the atmosphere, or the extension 31 may be 1n the nature of a bypass extending around the valve 13, and connected to the pipe 8 in rear of the section the valve is fully projected.

9, so that Whatever gases are expelled through the safety valve Will pass through the mutiler.

From the foregoing description, it Will be noted that the normal operation of the engine, including the intake and exhaust is not altered in any Way, other than to retard the same by reason of the back pressure Caused by closing the valve 13. rIhe recess 22 large enough, so that when the valve 13 1s closed as far as possible, it Will not stop the action of the engine altogether. The driver,

vwhen the automobile is going too fast, may

partially close the valve 13 to slacken his speed, but if he closes the valve as far as possible, the pressure resulting from the explosion Will still be sufliciently relieved through the opening 2Q to permit a small amount of fuel to be taken in WhenY the inlet valve to the engine cylinder is opened. It it were not for this openingl 22, it may be readily seen that the pressure due to the explosion would necessarily be relieved through the carbureter as soon as the intake valve was' opened, and might set lire to the gas in the carbureter.

The relief valve 26 is also an important eature, since Without it the driver might, by closing the valve 13 too suddenly, cause a comparatively smallv portion of the exhaust pipe to receive the effect of the explosion of a full charge of fuel. This would result in bursting the exhaust pipe, unless it were made excessively heavy.

Normally the slide valve 13 isy entirely Withdrawn from the exhaust passageway, so that the latter is entirely unobstructed, and there is no chance for carbon to collect on the valve, or to be dammed up in the exhaust passageway.

,'While I have shovvn and described in de- 'i tail the preferred construction of the invention, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made-therein Without any material' departure from the salient `features' AWhat is claimed isi Y Y The combination With the exhaust pipe of an automobile engine, of a pipe section interposed therein, said y section including a valve box extending the section, a cut-ofi' Y ofthe invention as expressed in the claim. V50

gate valve slidably mounted in said box and projectable completely across the exhaust pipe, and yieldable means normally holding the valve retracted, leaving the passage through the exhaust pipe entirely unobstructed7 said valve having an escape opening for the exhaust gases when In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as myown, I have hereto aiiixed my signature.

LEE D. BRUE CKEL.

vperpendicularly from 

